Orthopyroxenes are a group of minerals. Amongst them, there is a sub-group called the Orthorhombics. The Orthorhombics in the Orthopyroxene group include Bronzite, Enstatite and Hypersthene.
To understand these minerals, one must learn a little bit about Crystallography, which is the science that studies the structure and properties of crystals. It studies the bonding and arrangement of atoms in crystalline solids and the geometric structure of crystal lattices. It analyzes the diffraction of x-rays by crystals serving as optical gratings. Using x-ray crystallography, chemists can determine the bonding arrangements and internal structures of molecules and minerals, including the structures of large complex minerals such as DNA and proteins.
A crystal lattice is a lattice from which the structure of a crystal may be obtained by
associating with every lattice point an assembly of atoms identical in
composition, arrangement, and orientation.
A crystal lattice is a 3-dimensional configuration of points connected by lines used to describe the orderly arrangement of atoms in a crystal
.
Each point represents one or more atoms in the actual crystal. The
lattice is divided into a number of identical blocks or cells that are
repeated in all directions to form a geometric pattern. Lattices are
classified according to their dominant symmetries: isometric, trigonal,
hexagonal, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic.
An orthorhombic crystal system is a type of crystal system or 3-dimensional geometric arrangement where there are 3 unequal axes at all right angles.
Wikipedia says:
"In crystallography
, the
orthorhombic crystal system is one of the 7 lattice point groups
. Orthorhombic lattices
result from stretching a cubic lattice
along 2 of its orthogonal pairs by 2 different factors, resulting in a rectangular prism
with a rectangular base and height. . . All 3 bases intersect at 90° angles. The 3 lattice vectors remain mutually orthogonal
."
-----------------------
I remember my father studied crystals and grew some of his own. He suspended a thread in a small glass cup containing a mixture of various chemicals and crystals would grow.
The one paperback book he had that he used to perform these experiments was "Crystals and Crystal Growing" by Alan Holden and Phylis Singer (published by Anchor Books, Doubleday & Co., Inc. in 1960, Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 60-5932).
I actually have a copy of this paperback so you can still find copies out there. It contains photographs of crystal growing experiments you can perform at home.
---------------------
What first got me interested in Orthopyroxenes is that I discovered the mineral Bronzite. I read that this mineral can be found in Wyoming, where I live and purchased a ring with a large Bronzite cabochon in it so I could examine it closely and know what to look for when I was rock hunting.
Last weekend, while rock hunting in Wyoming I came across some rocks that I thought for certain were Bronzite!
I also ordered some beads made of Bronzite and a pendant with a Bronzite cabochon, which I received in the mail today. The photo above shows the rocks I found along with the pendant and beads.
The reason I thought for certain the rocks were Bronzite was because of the crystal structures that displayed on the surface of the rocks.
Here is a close-up photograph of the green colored stone. I believe the stone contains green fuchite but also has these three dimensional prominant hair like crystal threads on the surface.
Here I modified the photo, removing the color and making it greyscale, and then highlighted the three dimensional surface crystals to see if any pattern exists. It appears the crystals are random and contain no certain pattern.
Here is a close-up of one stone where the crystal structure most definately appears to be identical to those in the bronzite pendant and bronzite beads. The brown color is also identical.
Supposedly ancient Romans ground Bronzite into powder which they used for protection against mental illness and confusion and to strengthen one's nerves.
Bronzite is considered a semi-prescious stone. It has reflective inclusions that give it a metallic sheen.
Metaphysical Qualities:
It is used for protection as it not only repels but also
sends back negative energies to the sender.
It is said to assist one in achieving a state of certainty without willfulness,
allowing you to easily adapt to the best path to take.
Bronzite is said to be a "
stone of focused action", that it helps dispel uncertainty and helps one take control of our
actions. It can also help one to think ahead about things, enhancing the
ability to take control of our own lives.
It is also called a “
stone of courtesy” aid is especially helpful to
those who greet and assist the public. It supposedly even instills a polite
nature in those around you.
Bronzite is a good grounding stone and promotes change in a harmonious way.
Emotionally, it is said to promote a loving and
unprejudiced discernment within you and it provides the ability to resolve
unsettled emotions in one's life.
Mentally, it is said to provide one with
the courage to act on your thoughts and feelings and it instills the
courage to follow through with life path decisions.
Physically, it can be used to bring an alkaline body
state to the acid condition, helping to fight off infections. It can
increase the assimilation of iron and provides an improved duration of
iron within the physical body. It aids the body in the normal
transformation of cycles. Bronzite is used to heal illness related to
the solar plexus chakra, assimilation of iron, lessening muscular
tension, dispelling restlessness caused by emotional and psycho-physical
ailments.
Bronzite is actually a weathered ferriferous (= contains Iron) variety of Enstatite and is correctly called "altered Enstatite". Enstatite is commonly found in meteorites.
Enstatite is one of the few silicate minerals that have been observed in
crystalline form outside our Solar System, particularly around evolved
stars and Planetary Nebulae
such as NGC 6302
.
Enstatite is thought to be one of the early stages for the formation of
crystalline silicates in space and many correlations have been noted
between the occurrence of the mineral and the structure of the object
around which it has been observed.
Wyoming is such an exciting place to live for rockhounds like myself! There are so many semi-prescious stones to look for: diamonds! iolite! I love the banded iron (tiger iron)! There is kyanite, labradorite, amber (I found one piece), rubies, peridot, garnet, opal, gold, and so much more!!
However, now that I'm hooked on Bronzite, that will be my main focus in my rock hunting trips until I move on to a different stone!! Although the banded iron is so gorgeous I can't help but pick up a nice specimen when I find one.
